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Everyone experiences bouts of sadness. In fact,
sadness is a completely normal and healthy response to life’s inevitable adversities — layoffs, breakups, breakdowns. Depression, on the
other hand, is a serious condition that often requires treatment.

Feeling down and feeling depressed share similar
symptoms, but clinical depression is the term that doctors use to describe a
chemical imbalance that results from a combination of possible causes
(including your genes, your brain chemicals, and your emotions). And though
depression can be triggered by many of the same events that cause normal
sadness, it is an illness that requires treatment
— not just an emotional reaction.

How can you tell the difference? "The difference
between normal sadness and depression is in the duration and intensity,"
says Irina Firstein, LCSW, a mental health counselor in New York City. “Sadness is a
normal human reaction to an event or experience that is unwanted, painful, or
unfortunate. Usually these feelings will lessen or lift with the passage of
time, processing of the event, and seeing it in perspective or as a continuum
of life.”

Tearfulness
Triggers: What Makes Us Sad?

Why do we get bummed out? “Rejection
by an important person in one's life, being passed over for a promotion, not
getting the job one was hoping for — these can all lead to a sense of
sadness,” says Firstein. “Usually sad feelings will last a few days or maybe a
week, and during this time a person is able to function normally in their life,
fulfill duties and tasks or daily activities, eat, sleep, and coexist with others."

These common sadness
scenarios can certainly invoke tears — but some of them may also put
you at risk for depression:

The death of a loved one. Grief
is a process that everyone must work their way through at some point in their
lives. It may take years — but grief does not normally lead to
clinical depression.

Bad breakups. A breakup or a divorce — even the loss of a
friendship — can lead to feelings of loneliness, and split-ups have
actually been shown to potentially trigger episodes of depression.

Job loss. Beyond feelings of rejection, losing your job
can lead to financial stress and can send your self-esteem through the wringer.
And this combination of pressure, sadness, and anxiety may also lead to
depression, says Firstein.

Bad health. Prolonged illness and chronic pain commonly lead to
isolation and loss of independence. While these stressors are especially common
in the elderly, it’s important to know that depression is not a normal part of
aging.

Seasonal sadness. Winter blues are a common cause of sadness in younger
people who live in northern climates. Also called seasonal affective disorder,
winter blues is a type of sadness that usually clears up with exposure to
sunshine.

When Does Normal Sadness Turn Into
Depression?

"When feelings of normal sadness or winter blues don't
go away and, in fact, get deeper and more intense, and there is a difficulty or
major effort in carrying out daily activities, they can be signs of
depression," warns Firstein.

If you have five or more of these symptoms for at least
two weeks, you could be at risk for depression.

Extreme restlessness or anxiety

Big changes in your weight or appetite

Constant fatigue

Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

Loss of interest in normal activities

Inability to think clearly

Trouble sleeping

Thoughts of death or suicide

How
to Get Beyond Depression

"If you’re getting mired in a long-lasting sadness,
it’s a good idea to pay attention,” says Firstein. “Aside from seeking
professional help, you should talk to those close to you about what you are
feeling, try to understand your feelings, and to make sense of them,” she says.

These tips may also help:

Get plenty of sleep.

Increase your exercise routine.

Avoid drugs and alcohol.

Postpone important decisions.

Be patient with yourself and set
reasonable goals.

Sadness is a completely normal reaction that begins to
fade over time — it should not keep you from functioning and behaving
normally. And remember: It will get better. But if you think you have symptoms
of depression, it’s important to ask for help. With the right treatment, depression
will get better, too.

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